The Week at a Glance
- Day 1
- International Drive
- Day 2
- Kennedy Space Center
- Days 3 and 5
- Theme parks
- Day 4
- Airboats and highland cows
- Day 6
- Manatees or St. Augustine
- Day 7
- Winter Park and downtown
Most Orlando itineraries are just a list of theme park days. This one assumes you're doing the parks too, and plans the days around them: the space center, the springs, a night out and the things locals actually do.
Swap days around to fit your park tickets. Every stop links to times and prices.
Day 1: International Drive
Ease in on I-Drive, close to most hotels.
- Afternoon: SEA LIFE Orlando and Madame Tussauds at ICON Park. Combo tickets usually cost less than buying each one.
- Sunset: The Wheel at ICON Park. A full rotation takes about 23 minutes.
- Night: Pirates Dinner Adventure or Outta Control, both a few minutes away.
Rainy? Swap in WonderWorks or Titanic. More in indoor things to do in Orlando.
Day 2: Kennedy Space Center
Plan the whole day. It's about an hour east on SR 528, a toll road.
- Driving: buy Kennedy Space Center tickets, arrive at opening and take the bus to the Apollo/Saturn V Center early.
- No car: the Kennedy Space Center tour from Orlando includes transportation and admission.
- Extra time: a dolphin sail near Cocoa Beach on the way back. See Kennedy Space Center and Cocoa Beach in one day.
Day 3: Theme park
Pick your park. Get there before opening and take a midday break at the hotel if you have little kids.
Day 4: Real Florida
Thirty minutes from the parks is a very different Florida.
- Morning: an airboat tour at Boggy Creek in Kissimmee, 10% off through us, to see alligators in the Everglades headwaters. (I'm Boggy Creek's marketing manager.)
- Same stop: Mini Moo Land, 10% off, with highland cows and baby calf bottle feedings.
- Evening: the Polynesian Fire Luau or Medieval Times, both on US 192 in Kissimmee.
Day 5: Theme park
Second park day. If you're doing the same park twice, save the rides you missed for the first hour.
Day 6: Springs or a day trip
- November to March: manatees. The Blue Spring kayak is 45 minutes away; Crystal River is the place to swim with them.
- Any time of year: St. Augustine, the oldest continuously inhabited European-founded city in the U.S., or a Clearwater Beach day.
Day 7: Winter Park and downtown
- Morning: a clear kayak tour in Winter Park, then lunch on Park Avenue. See things to do in Winter Park.
- Night: the downtown Orlando ghost tour.
Short on time?
- 3 days: Day 2, a park day, and Day 4.
- 5 days: Days 1 to 5.
More ideas in things to do in Orlando that aren't theme parks and the best Orlando tours.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in Orlando?
Five days covers two park days plus Kennedy Space Center, International Drive and a real-Florida day. A week adds a day trip and Winter Park.
What should I do in Orlando besides theme parks?
Kennedy Space Center, an airboat tour, manatees in winter, International Drive attractions, dinner shows, and day trips to St. Augustine or Clearwater Beach.
How do I do Kennedy Space Center without a car?
Book a tour from Orlando that includes round-trip transportation and admission.
Book the Days Between the Parks
Tours, shows and day trips from this itinerary, with live prices.
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